Washing-machine



UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEicE.

OLLOF SHOSTROM, OF ALTONA, ILLINOIS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specication of Letters Patent No. 23,866, dated May 3, 1859'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'OLLoF SHosTnoM, of Altona, county of Knox and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Machine for )Washing Clothes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the employment and arrangement of certain devices, the peculiar construction of which, wi-ll be hereinafter fully set forth and described.

In order that others skilled in the art, may make and use my invention, I will now describe its construction and operation.

Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a top View. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 4 is a transverse section. y

The box (A A) is set upon four legs (B B) inside and on the bottom of the box. At each side, are placed slats (C C) to which are attached at their front ends levers (D D). Said levers extend up above the box, and may be moved either from or toward each other, and be retained in any desired position, by means of serrated plates (F F), as shown in Fig. 2. On the slats (C C) rests a false bottom On each side of said bottom, are secured rods (it z) as seen in Fig. 3. On these rods are placed springs (z' 2') which extend lengthwise with the rods, and resemble, one half of carriage springs. To these springs are attached the rubber bottom, (g) on which is placed an irregular surface (l) composed of zinc, or any other suitable material, and resembling the common wash board. On each end of the wash board is placed small rollers (K) at the center, and on the under side of wash board is attached an arm (L) extending nearly to the front of the box. Said arm is connected by an elbow or hinge to the arm lever (M) which passes up-and over its fulcrum (N)-thence down in front of the box. In the outer end, is a slot (O) through which passes a bolt (P) connecting it with the outer edge of pulley (Q). Said pulley is on shaft (It) which has its 'bearing at (S) near the front end of the box. The shaft is kept in its place by means of hasps (T). On the opposite end of the shaft is another pulley (W) on which is placed a belt (g), extending back to a large pulley Connected with this pulley is a shaft as seen in Fig. 2, extending across near the front end of the box. On the opposite end is attached a crank (Y). is another shaft (Z) of the same size. The shafts have their boxes in the upper edge of the box. )Vith hasps (2), staples and hooks to confine them in their proper places. Near the back end, on each side are placed levers (3) as shown in Fig. l. Near the top is cut a half circle, to it the gudgeon of the back shaft Near the lower end of lever (3) on the same side are a set of notches,

into which p awl (4) is fitted, to keep the lever in the desired position. Thus the shafts may be moved from or toward each other, as the case may require. Over and around the shafts is an endless apron (5) to which the ribs (G) are attached. One of the ribs (7) is made thin. One end is fastened' with an eye and pin; the other with a pin and hook. Said rib is intended toconfine the clothes while the machine is at work.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The clothes being secured under rib (7) motion is communicated to the endless apron, and wash board, by means of crank (Y). It will be observed that motion is imparted to the wash board by means of a belt passing from the large to the smaller pulley, thus at once operating the arm lever (M), to which is attached the wash board. By bringing the upper ends of slat levers near each other, the clothes may be rubbed as hard as may be desired, and by putting in theslides (8) in front to prevent the colthes from coming in contact with the arm lever they may be washed with perfect ease and without the slightest injury. The apron may be made tight or loose on the shafts by levers (D D).

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- The `combination and arrangement of slats C, levers D, serrated plates F, with rods L, false bottom G, endless apron, 5, lever 3, and pawl 4, the several parts. being constructed and operated substantially in he manner and for the purpose herein set orth.

oLLoE sHosTEoM. [1.. s]

IVitnesses:

LEONARD N. HoLMBUnGI-I, PETER HELBERGH.

Near the back end of the box 

